GB1579934A - Skin-care cosmetic products - Google Patents

Description

(54) SKIN-CARE COSMETIC PRODUCTS (71) We, BEECHAM GROUP LIMITED, a British Company of Beecham House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a skin-care product of cream-like or lotion consistency, having a high water content and containing tiny polymer particles.

The product may be used as a moisturising cream or lotion and has the advantage of leaving the skin with a smooth feel.

Moisturising creams and lotions are widely used as skin cosmetics. They are generally unpigmented perfumed oil-in-water emulsions (or, less commonly, waterin-oil emulsions) with a relatively high water content of from about 6(w90% by weight. Such creams are absorbed by the upper layers of skin cells, swelling them to some extent, but otherwise leaving essentially no residual effect on the skin other than a slight perfume. They differ from so-called vanishing creams in that they contain essentially no free fatty acid.

Powder products have traditionally been used for skin smoothing purposes, the powder filling pores and fine wrinkles on the skin surface. With the advent of polymer technology, proposals were made to substitute polymer particles for the powders, such as talc, used in these products. Specifications 774029, 818425, 1059970, 1093108, 1141994 and 1202796 all refer to the possible use of polymer particles in cosmetics.

During the course of our investigations into the use of polymer particles in moisturising creams or lotions we found that spherical or substantially spherical particles in the range 5 to 15 microns could be incorporated in amounts from about 3% to about 10% by weight of the cream or lotion without adversely affecting the stability and other desirable properties. Moreover, despite the very small amount of polymer present, the resulting product rendered the skin particularly smooth and silky.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a skin-care product comprising an unpigmented oil-in-water (or water-in-oil) emulsion containing from 6090% by weight of water and having dispersed therein from 3 to 10% by weight of substantially spherical synthetic polymer or copolymer particles having an average particle size in the range 5 to 15 microns, the oil being a non-volatile oil, as herein defined.

As used herein, the term "non volatile oil" means an oil (including viscous or semi-solid liquids) which, when applied as a thin film on a surface maintained at 370C, does not evaporate to an extent greater than 10% by weight of the applied quantity in a period of 3 hours. Examples include mineral oil and petroleum jelly.

Preferably the product should contain a perfume, and preferably there should be substantially no free fatty acid present.

Usually the product will contain from 3 to 5% by weight of the polymer or copolymer particles.

Preferably the polymer or copolymer particles shall have an average size of from 5 to 7 microns.

Preferably, substantially none of the polymer or copolymer particles should exceed about 50 microns, and best results are achieved when there are substantially no particles of a size greater than 15 microns.

The polymer or copolymer particles should preferably not swell to any great extent in water or the oil used in the product. Within this limitation cross-linked polystyrene or polymethyl methacrylate microspheres would be suitable. However, the preferred polymer is polyethylene.

The following are Examples of the formulae of certain moisturising creams and lotions according to the invention: Moisturising Lotion (oil-in-water) Formula % w/w % w/w Mineral Oil 20.00 20.00 Stearic Acid 4.00 4.00 Triethanolamine 1.30 1.30 Preservatives qs qs Fragrance qs qs Distilled water 71.70 65.70 *Polymist B-6 3.00 9.00 100.00 100.00 Moisturising Cream (water-in-oil) Formula % w/w % w/w Mineral Oil 22.00 22.00 Beeswax 5.00 5.00 Petroleum jelly 10.00 10.00 Cetyl alcohol 2.00 2.00 Borax 0.50 0.50 Magnesium Sulphate 0.20 0.20 Preservatives qs qs Fragrance qs qs *Polymist B-12 3.00 9.00 Distilled water 57.30 51.30 100.00 100.00 *Polymist is a Trade Mark of Allied Chemicals; Station House, Stamford New Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA16 IEP, England.

Polymist B-6 and B-12 are high density (0.96 gm/cc by ASTM D-1505) polyethylene microspheres having an average particle size of 6y and 12,u respectively, a particle size range of from 212y and 224y respectively with less than 2% and about 50% respectively of the particles larger than 10,u.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A skin-care product comprising an unpigmented oil-in-water (or water-inoil) emulsion containing from 60-90% by weight of water and having dispersed therein from 3 to 10% by weight of substantially spherical synthetic polymer or copolymer particles having an average particle size in the range 5 to 15 microns, the oil being a non-volatile oil as herein defined.

2. A skin care product as claimed in claim 1 including a perfume and containing substantially no free fatty acid.

3. A skin care product as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 containing from 3 to 5% by weight of the polymer or copolymer particles.

4. A skin care product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein substantially none of the polymer or copolymer particles have a particle size greater than 15 microns.

5. A skin care product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer or copolymer particles are polyethylene, or cross-linked polystyrene or polymethylmethacrylate microspheres.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. extent in water or the oil used in the product. Within this limitation cross-linked polystyrene or polymethyl methacrylate microspheres would be suitable. However, the preferred polymer is polyethylene. The following are Examples of the formulae of certain moisturising creams and lotions according to the invention: Moisturising Lotion (oil-in-water) Formula % w/w % w/w Mineral Oil 20.00 20.00 Stearic Acid 4.00 4.00 Triethanolamine 1.30 1.30 Preservatives qs qs Fragrance qs qs Distilled water 71.70 65.70 *Polymist B-6 3.00 9.00 100.00 100.00 Moisturising Cream (water-in-oil) Formula % w/w % w/w Mineral Oil 22.00 22.00 Beeswax 5.00 5.00 Petroleum jelly 10.00 10.00 Cetyl alcohol 2.00 2.00 Borax 0.50 0.50 Magnesium Sulphate 0.20 0.20 Preservatives qs qs Fragrance qs qs *Polymist B-12 3.00 9.00 Distilled water 57.30 51.30 100.00 100.00 *Polymist is a Trade Mark of Allied Chemicals; Station House, Stamford New Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA16 IEP, England. Polymist B-6 and B-12 are high density (0.96 gm/cc by ASTM D-1505) polyethylene microspheres having an average particle size of 6y and 12,u respectively, a particle size range of from 212y and 224y respectively with less than 2% and about 50% respectively of the particles larger than 10,u. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A skin-care product comprising an unpigmented oil-in-water (or water-inoil) emulsion containing from 60-90% by weight of water and having dispersed therein from 3 to 10% by weight of substantially spherical synthetic polymer or copolymer particles having an average particle size in the range 5 to 15 microns, the oil being a non-volatile oil as herein defined.

2. A skin care product as claimed in claim 1 including a perfume and containing substantially no free fatty acid.

3. A skin care product as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 containing from 3 to 5% by weight of the polymer or copolymer particles.

4. A skin care product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein substantially none of the polymer or copolymer particles have a particle size greater than 15 microns.

5. A skin care product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer or copolymer particles are polyethylene, or cross-linked polystyrene or polymethylmethacrylate microspheres.